June 2011 Newsletter

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Economic & Eternal Recovery

Early in 2008 the economy was strong, new homes were being built, businesses were expanding. Matt had a good job at a local company that manufactures building materials. He had a girlfriend. Life seemed good. Then the unsustainable economic bubble burst, causing the worst recession since the Great Depression. He was laid off his job due to a lack of demand in the fall of 2008.

Matt looked hard for work like so many others. There just were not enough jobs for everyone. After more than a year of looking, his depression was really setting in. Alcohol had taken control of his life. His girlfriend kicked him out. He said, “I had no idea of being homeless. I grew up in a good family. I was only on the street for a week. It was winter. The last night out, I woke up on a hill at the golf course at 2 or 3 am. I thought it was the cops. I panicked. I stood up to turn, but rolled down the hill getting all wet and muddy.” That incident seemed to be an allegory of his life at the time: alone, outside, cold, dark, afraid, panicked, running, falling, rolling down, wet and covered in mire. Matt needed recovery. He said, “That same day, I came to the Mission. I had been afraid to come here. I assumed there were a lot of bad people. But after a while, I realized people had bad things to deal with and really wanted to get out of here. I never had problems with anyone. I felt safe here and was held responsible not to drink.”

Matt washed dishes in the Mission kitchen to earn his keep as he was recovering. He landed a good job selling tools that he has now had for more than a year. He saved his money and moved out for a short while, then returned to rent one of our Transitional Housing Program rooms. He was not quite ready to live without the accountability. He said, “I trusted the Mission, so I came back here. It’s a safe place to be.”

While at the Mission, Matt attended our chapel services. He said, “I had not been to church since middle school. I learned to enjoy it. I liked the music and messages. It made me think about God. My time at the Mission made me believe that there really is a God. I hope one day, I will get to meet Him. I voluntarily read the Bible on my own now. I accepted Jesus Christ, and that, I would have never done unless I was here.”